Program Manager Conservation

Plattnerfoundation; Potsdam; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful conservation initiative

Endowment-backed stability

Lean team with fast decisions

AI tools in use (n8n, Asana AI Studio)

Office in Potsdam

Job summary

The Hasso Plattner Foundation in Potsdam, Germany is seeking a (Senior) Program Manager Conservation to lead one of Africa’s most significant rainforest initiatives and to oversee related conservation and education projects across the continent.

You will develop funding coalitions, coordinate with international partners, and shape strategic program management with a focus on measurable impact and agile execution. This in-office role requires strong leadership and cross-cultural communication.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in conservation, biodiversity, or climate change.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading complex international projects.
• Experience working in Global South.
• Excellent analytical and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal German and English; French is an advantage.
• Great organizational skills and structured way of working.
• Self-directed, strategic thinker with hands-on execution.

Responsibilities

• Drive implementation of ambitious conservation initiatives in Africa’s rainforests.
• Support a portfolio of established conservation and education projects across Africa.
• Drive the formation of a high-profile funding coalition.
• Coordinate internal departments and external partners for program delivery.
• Prepare materials for decision-making, project agreements, and reporting.
• Monitor progress, identify risks or delays, and propose solutions.
• Develop and track KPIs and reporting on outcomes.
• Act as expert and sparring partner for Executive Management and Head of Program Management.
• Participate in strategic planning and help shape evolving priorities.
• Support professionalization and standardization of internal processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

German & English proficiency

Strategic thinking

Ambiguity tolerance

Self-direction

Team leadership

Adaptability

Education

Master’s degree

Tools

n8n

Asana AI Studio

Job description

(Senior) Program Manager Conservation (all genders)

The Hasso Plattner Foundation

Established by SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner, the Hasso Plattner Foundation builds and runs its own long-term philanthropic initiatives. It founds and funds institutions, shaping them over decades, such as the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering, Museum Barberini, and Sabine Plattner African Charities. An in-house Investment Office manages the endowment that makes it all possible.

As Program Manager Conservation, you'll help launch one of the most significant new conservation initiatives for Africa's rainforests, while also supporting a portfolio of established conservation and education projects across the continent. Working closely with HPF leadership and international partners, you'll build the funding coalition, structures, and partner network that turn an ambitious vision into measurable impact.

This role is based in Potsdam, Germany. We work predominantly in-office, by design. It's how we keep decisions fast and collaboration real.

The Role

As Program Manager Conservation, your priority will be to lift one of the most relevant new conservation initiatives for African rainforests off the ground. In general, you will shape and coordinate the Foundation’s philanthropic initiatives with a focus on conservation activities in Europe and the global South. The role includes strategic project planning, program monitoring and improvement, forming funding coalitions with international stakeholders, and building an ecosystem that lets the initiative thrive.

You’ll work closely with Executive Management, the Head of Program Management and the leaders of our partners to ensure that each project contributes meaningfully to the Foundation’s mission.

Your Responsibilities

• Drive implementation of a new and highly ambitious conservation initiatives in Africa’s rainforests.
• Support a portfolio of well-established conservation and education projects across the African continent.
• Drive the formation of an interest-based, high profile funding coalition.
• Act as a point of contact andcoordinator for internal departments and external project partners involved in program delivery to facilitate collaboration.
• Support project planning and execution, including the preparation of materials for internal decision-making, project agreements, and reporting.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks or delays, and propose solutions to keep initiatives on track.
• Contribute to impact management, including the development and tracking of KPIs and reporting on outcomes.
• Act as expert and sparring partner for the Executive Management and Head of Program Management.
• Participate in overall strategic planningand help shape the Foundation’s evolving priorities.
• Support the professionalization of internal processes and standardization of project cycles.

What You Bring

• Outstanding academic track record from a leading university
• Completed master’s degree, preferably with focus related to conservation, biodiversity, or climate change
• Minimum 5 years of experience in leading complex projects, preferably in international high-performing teams.
• Experience working in Global South
• Excellent analytical and stakeholder management skills
• Great organizational skills and structured way of working
• Exceptionally driven and committed to striving for excellence
• Eager to develop new skills and areas of expertise, and displaying a high level of agility
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in German and English, French is an advantage

You Are...

• Driven and committed to excellence in everything you do
• Self-directed, well-structured, and flexible, with the ability to think strategically and act hands-on
• Up to date with AI advancements and curious to learn more
• Eager to keep learning and expanding your expertise, with‚ a high level‚ of agility and ownership
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and shifting priorities without needing a fixed playbook
• Trusted with discretion by instinct, not just policy
• Comfortable being influential without needing visible credit

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on one of the single most impactful conservation initiatives in Africa
• The entrepreneurial pace and ownership of a high-ambition organization, backed by the stability of a well-funded endowment
• A lean team with short reporting lines and fast decisions: your work is visible to leadership from day one
• AI tools in active use (n8n, Asana AI Studio);we’reearly in the journey, building seriously; we see AIas a means toan end, not a headline
• Competitive compensation package, State-of-the-art IT equipment, public transport ticket, free lunch, excellent coffee, outdoor sports and a beautiful lakeside office in Potsdam